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Daughter-in-Law Drama

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My 35-year-old son is about to be married in November. This would be his second marriage. From his first marriage, he had two wonderful children who are now 10 and 13. When my son got divorced from his first wife, my granddaughter was 3.

Here's maybe my problem: I have been in contact with my grandkids' mom for forever. We have a ...Read more

Ask Amy: Biological connection reveals famous sibling

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I am a 68-year-old professional woman with advanced degrees.

I have a very successful career, a loving husband, and great family and friends.

I was adopted at birth by my biological mother’s older sister and her husband. My parents gave me an amazing life full of love and opportunities.

I grew up knowing my biological mom, and ...Read more

Single File: Serious Problem

Life Advice / Single File /

DEAR SUSAN: I'm 63, divorced after 35 years and want to stay single. I enjoy dating, going to concerts, fine eateries and good conversation. But every woman I've ever dated wanted to get serious after the second or third date. Is this typical or am I selfish to want affection without commitment? (By the way, I don't lie, make promises or use the...Read more

Kaspars Grinvalds/Dreamstime/TNS

The "How are you?" cleanse

Life Advice / Dating Advice /

If you are reading this article and you’re currently on an online dating site/app, then I am putting you on a “How are you?” cleanse.

All too often on the dating apps, even if you have a fantastic profile with lots of “message bait”—information in your profile specific to yourself that makes it easy for someone to ask a question or ...Read more

Carrying the Weight of Everyone Else's Problems

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I am the kind of person everyone goes to if they have a problem or if they're going through a tough time. I want to be clear: I don't take that lightly, and I'm honored that my friends feel safe enough to share their feelings, frustrations and tears with me.

With that said, this seems to happen wherever I go. I can be in a gas ...Read more

Ask Amy: Widowed man falls for former sister-in-law

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I am a 60-year-old widowed man.

My wife of over 30 years passed away four years ago after a long illness.

My late-wife’s sister and I started spending time together about six months ago. We have many shared interests and have always gotten along very well.

She has been divorced for several years.

Our relationship has turned ...Read more

Fiancee Still Lives With Ex-Boyfriend

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I am so sad for "Sad in Ohio," the woman whose husband cheated on her. I too have a husband who cheated multiple times in our marriage. The last one was 12 years ago -- that I know of!

I haven't heard of any children from his affairs. And they were affairs, not one-night stands. These involved feelings. This hurt me so badly. We ...Read more

Ask Amy: Repressed emotions won’t stay hidden

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I grew up in the ’60s in a Midwestern family where we were taught to repress our emotions.

I was a sensitive and creative kid, the youngest of three brothers.

My parents were loving but detached, which offered my brother (who was two and a half years older) endless opportunities to torment me.

I moved away from our small town ...Read more

Husband's Friends Don't Have to Be My Friends

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I am an identical twin and also a therapist. Your letter from a wife whose husband prioritizes his twin connection over his marriage prompted my response.

This man's heels are dug in. Many spouses fear therapy because, deep down, they know they're wrong and they dread a two-against-one situation.

I would suggest the wife seek ...Read more

Ask Amy: Details emerge after soul mate’s death

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I was with my boyfriend for four years.

We lived together the entire time.

He was my soul mate and stepped in to be the dad in my kids' lives (I have three children from my previous marriage).

I thought everything was amazing and that he was my partner in life.

He died two weeks ago. Because we weren't married, I couldn't be the ...Read more

When the Embers at the End Overshadow a Legacy

It's a terrible vice. I wake up and pretty much immediately scroll through the news and the emails that show who doesn't sleep and which brands want to bug you before you've had your coffee. It was then I read that Sen. Dianne Feinstein had passed away.

Perhaps I shouldn't admit that I'm not a huge fan of reading biographies and don't spend my ...Read more

Marriage Advice for Twins

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I am a female twin who has been married for 22 years. I read the letter from "Not Feeling Like His Wife," the woman whose husband's twin kept getting involved and causing problems in their marriage.

In the beginning of our marriage, my husband and I had a similar problem with my twin sister, although not as severe. All of her ...Read more

Ask Amy: New neighbors endanger their children

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I have serious concerns about new neighbors, who moved in about a year ago. They have two young daughters.

I suspect the mother is an alcoholic. Her actions are putting the girls in danger.

On several occasions I and other neighbors have seen her drive erratically down our street, once with a little girl on her lap holding the ...Read more

Must Stop Falling for My Father-in-Law

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: Here's my situation. In my last year of college, I met the most beautiful and intelligent girl I've even known. We instantly hit it off and began dating. We have so much in common and share the same values and goals for life. Because we were attending college out of state, we didn't meet each other's parents until graduation. All ...Read more

Ask Amy: A mower blows, but this mower still mows

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I mow lawns as a side gig.

Several months ago, my lawn mower quit working and one of the people I mow for (the “Smiths”) offered to let me use theirs.

I accepted their offer, and told them that as long as I used their lawn mower to mow other lawns, I wouldn't charge them for mowing theirs.

A few weeks ago, another client gave me...Read more

Stretched Thin by Bridal Duties

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My future sister-in-law is getting married, and I am a maid of honor. She already had a bridal party where I made food and helped out before and after the event. Now she is having her bachelorette party. Originally, she stated she just wanted a casual night out with the bridal party. It sounded like it would just be an evening ...Read more

Ask Amy: After abuse, mom ponders name change

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I have two children, ages 5 and 10. I have been a single mother for the past four years after a decade of abuse from their father and a resulting restraining order. The court awarded me sole custody of the children.

Unfortunately, both children have their father’s last name.

I’m ready to move forward with changing their last ...Read more

Slipping Away From My Wife

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My wife wakes up every weekday at 5 a.m. and goes to work at 6 a.m. I don't know what time she gets out of work, but she goes to her house (she owns a separate house) and, according to her, takes a nap. She usually comes home around 8 p.m. That is 14 hours a day that she is not here!

The other day when she called, I heard another ...Read more

Ask Amy: Member of group builds bridge to nowhere

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I am in a group of four women who have played Bridge together almost every week for more than 25 years.

A year ago, one of the group abruptly cut all of us off. Through a series of texts and emails she told us that she can’t be friends with us anymore.

She wouldn’t make time to see us in person.

She seems to be particularly mad ...Read more

Single File: The Power to Choose

Life Advice / Single File /

DEAR SUSAN: The question "why eat alone if you can get a man to pay for it?" made me sick to my stomach. Why eat alone if you can pay for a date -- and have anyone's company YOU want?

I've recently been promoted and, being single, I enjoy my extra money. I like to take out friends and men I'm interested in, people who can't always afford nice ...Read more